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Author Topic: Blender 3D and Mach3  (Read 22069 times)

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Offline VOTS

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Blender 3D and Mach3
« on: January 24, 2007, 11:11:45 AM »
I'm sure more than one of you has either heard of, or more importantly, is an avid user of Blender 3D. (For those of you scratching your head, prepare to be amazed and go here: http://blender.org/cms/Home.2.0.html)
I am a bonifide expert at modeling in Blender 3D, so my obvious question is. Making widgets in Blender, and then going from there to G-Code --> Mach3.

I have exported some very basic models into DXF and tried to use them in Mach3 but so far, I haven't had much luck. The general issue I have is that when exporting to DXF, the DXF itself isn't very well supported with other CAD/CAM programs. I had a long session with a fella you runs a waterjet with me trying to get him a DXF that he could actually use. So I know the limitation here is with Blender. (Or thats my edjumacated guess)

I have read through http://www.becausewecan.org/blog/ where these folks are doing just what I am asking about, but they are using a $500.00 CAM program between Blender and Mach3.

So... Anyone... Anyone out there with this same type of set up?

Hep me!


Offline ger21

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2007, 09:44:55 PM »
Gerry

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http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

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Offline VOTS

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2007, 10:23:06 PM »
Thanks Gerbil  ;D

Actually, the Cut3D is exactly what Jeffrey McGrew of Becausewecan.com is using. That is the $500 software package I mentioned in my original post. I got a reply from Jeff just after my post here where he kind of detailed out his process and explained the *gap* between Blender and Mach3. Still, $500 bucks. I just spent $3,000 on my CNC Mill and another $160 on Mach3 figuring that I was good to go. finding it hard to believe that more folks out there are not exactly where I am with Blender and that a more viable (cheap) solution isn't out there. One thing I don't understand about Mach3 is... I see in the manual talk about importing DXF files and the such. (File Import) But my Mach3 doesn't seem t have the option. (Yes I have the latest release). Is that an add-in or something?

Offline Graham Waterworth

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2007, 11:19:07 AM »
Go to File and click LazyCAM, thats the dxf importer.

Graham.
Without engineers the world stops

Offline VOTS

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2007, 11:21:25 AM »
Thanks Graham;

Just found that last night. Had dimissed 'Lazy Cam' because I thought it was something totally different. (Cam = Camera to me)

hehe

Offline ger21

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2007, 10:11:39 PM »
LazyCAM and the old Mach3 .dxf importer can only handle 2D .dxf's, not 3D.

Cut3D is $299, and you can get MeshCAM for $150
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

Offline VOTS

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2007, 10:20:48 PM »
Been fiddling with both of them.

MeshCAM has been able to create some fairly decent G-code for me so far, but I need more time to explore it. Cut3D is less expensive than I originally thought. I was rather taken aback by the fact that Cut3D doesn't do Bitmaps. Although, I should say that Meshcam isn't handling 3D files very well so far. But, I'm still experimenting. thanks for all your help.

Offline ger21

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2007, 09:42:19 AM »
What kind of problems are you having with MeshCAM. I've never seen a problem with it's file handling.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

Offline VOTS

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2007, 10:27:57 AM »
Well, several of the DXF exports from blender give me an error stating that 'No Polygons detected' or something to that effect. Which is of course hogwash. I can take the same DXF and open it in a dozen other CAD programs. But found that exporting to OBJ from the same file works. My issue now is, the way the cam programs go about making the tool paths. I mean, the 3D carving is awesome and I totally see the benifits. But, the primary thing I want to make here is more of a cut-out. Something that you would cut out on a waterjet. I would like the CAM software to simply create a toolpath that follows the lines around and in the objects I'm trying to make here. So far, Cut3D and Meshcam don't seem to be able to trace a contour as a toolpath. but then again, I'm rather green with them. :)

Offline ger21

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Re: Blender 3D and Mach3
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2007, 12:07:18 PM »
To use .dxf's in MeshCAM, the .dxf must consist of 3D face entities only. With MeshCAM, .stl is a better choice to use.

You want to cut the profile of a 3D object? You'll need to spend some money for that. Much simpler to draw the profile in a 2D CAD app and use LazyCAM or SheetCAM.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html